USA > New York > Columbia County > History of Columbia County, New York. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 1
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Gc 974.701 C72 1149163
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01150 0201
HISTORY
OF
COLUMBIA COUNTY,
NEW YORK.
WITH2
A(Ilustrations and Biographical ketcheg ما
SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.
PHILADELPHIA: EVERTS & ENSIGN.
1878.
PRESS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., PHILADELPHIA.
1
PREFACE.
1149163
WE present to the public this history of Columbia County-the result of much labor and research- with a feeling of confidence, tempered by a consciousness of unavoidable imperfection.
To write a truthful history of any county or section of country is never a light or an easy task ; but it becomes peculiarly onerous in the case of a county like Columbia, whose annals extend through more than two and a half centuries, and whose story must commence far back in the dimness of that ancient time when the dusky Mohicans first welcomed the pale-faced voyagers from beyond the sea.
$25.00
In such a field we have not expected to achieve absolute perfection and completeness of detail, but we have used our best endeavors to approximate as nearly as may be to that result. We have con- sulted many of the best and most reliable historical works bearing upon the subject, and have spared no labor in gathering material from the most thoroughly informed citizens of the county; and in these researches we have not been more anxious to collect all obtainable facts than to exclude every- thing of doubtful authenticity.
The most difficult part of this, as of all similar works, is the obtaining of correct knowledge of the dates of first settlements, and the names of those who made them. Accounts of these are in most cases-especially in a region so anciently settled as Columbia County-transmitted through the medium of tradition ; the different statements almost invariably disagreeing in material points, and not infre- quently being wholly irreconcilable. In these extreme cases the historian has no resource except to give the differing accounts for what they are worth, and to submit the question to the judgment of the public.
Another source of perplexity is found in the changes in orthography of many of the old names, particularly those of Dutch or of Indian origin, though it is by no means uncommon in those of the English. In old colonial records we not only find that, through the carelessness, caprice, or igno- rance of the scribes of these days, names of persons and places are differently spelled by different writers, but that as many as four different orthographical constructions of the same word are some- times found in the same document; so that, in more than one instance, we have found it extremely difficult to decide which manner was the proper one to adopt.
It seems unnecessary to say more in presentation of our work to its patrons. They will judge it npon its merits, and we trust it will meet their approval. It has been our design to trace in it the progress of the county of Columbia in such a manner as to show clearly to the reader of the present day its gradual development from the original wilderness, and through the maturing stages of its ex- istence, up to its present condition of enlightenment and prosperity, and to illustrate in plain and simple story the privations, the virtues, the piety, patriotism, and enterprise of her people. How far we have succeeded in accomplishing this purpose, the public verdict will decide.
3
1
4
PREFACE.
To those who have kindly given us their aid in the collection of material for the work, we desire to express our thanks ; and among these we would mention in general the pastors of the churches, the gentlemen of the Columbia County Medical Society, the editors of the different journals, and the county officers. We are also under special obligations to the following gentlemen and others through- out the county for courtesies and favors extended, and for valuable information, both oral and written : Hon. Edwin C. Terry, Hon. Darius Peck, Stephen B. Miller, Esq., Henry Hubbel, Esq., Peter M. Jordan, Esq., Hon. John Cadman, Hon. Sherman Van Ness, Hon. Levi F. Longley, E. C. Getty, Esq., William Bostwick, Esq., Hon. Cornelius H. Evans, Hon. Jacob W. Hoysradt, M. Parker Wil- liams, Esq., William Bryan, Esq., Hon. Theodore Miller, Hon. John C. Newkirk, Benjamin F. Deuell, Esq., Robert B. Monell, Esq., Wheeler H. Clarke, Esq., F. F. Folger, Esq., C. P. Collier, Esq., C. C. Terry, Hudson ; Charles Wild, W. H. Silvernail, Augustus Wynkoop, Wm. H. Atwood, Prof. Taylor, Kinderhook; H. W. Livingston, Mrs. Johnson, W. H. Washburne, Livingston ; Edward Kellogg, Samuel A. Curtis, Dr. M. L. Bates, Rev. Geo. W. Warner, H. Cady, Canaan ; Hon. Hugh McClellan, Geo. E. Burrows, John J. Van Valkenburgh, Wm. Thomas, David Ray, C. B. Hudson, G. W. Lay, Horace Peaslee, Dr. J. T. Shufelt, Dr. Richard Peck, Chatham ; Hampton C. Bull, Henry A. Tilden, John Kendall, the Community of Shakers, New Lebanon; Jacob W. Rossman, Vrooman Van Rensselaer, C. H. Stott, Stockport ; Captain A. Davis, Stuyvesant ; Hon. John F. Collin, Hillsdale ; Tobias Esselstyn, E. G. Studley, Nelson P. Aken, Henry P. Horton, Rev. A. Flack, G. W. Phillip, Claverack ; Wm. H. Wilson, Wm. L. Fraleigh, W. H. Rockefeller, M. Fingar, Clermont ; Hon. J. T. Hogeboom, George G. Macy, Cornelius Shufelt, Dr. P. W. Mull, Ghent.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CONTENTS.
HISTORICAL.
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
PAGE
I .- Geographical and Descriptive 9
II .- The White Man's First Visit, and the Indians whom be found here .
10
III .- Land-Grants-Purchases from Indians 15
Clermont
277
= Chatham
284
New Lebanon 301
319
Ghent .
33]
Stockport
347
Stuyvesant 355
360
Hillsdale
368
Austerlitz
378
Copake
387
Taghkanic
396
Ancram
403
Gallatin
411
ROSTER OF SOLDIERS FROM COLUMBIA COUNTY WHO SERVED IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION
417
PATRONS' RECORD
437
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAOE
Map of Columbia Conuty .
facing
9
Portrait of John H. Overbiser
213
Charles Esselstyn
214
Fac-simile of Capt. Richard Esselstyn's Commission
=
32
Portrait of Elisha Williams
83
Judge Robert R. Livingston
86
William Bryan
216
Ilon. Robert Mckinstry .
217
Mrs. Sally Mckinstry
217
Casper P. Collier
218
KINDERHOOK.
Residence of James Mix .
facing 220
Portrait of John Thompson Wendover
222
Residence of C. H. Housman between 226, 227
(Rear View) 226, 227
66 Charles Wild
facing 228
" David W. Gardenier, with Portrait
230
Portrait of Nathan Wild
=
232
CLAVERACK.
Residence of Nelson P. Aken (double page) . between 236, 237 Bird's-eye view of Philmont and Mellenville (double
page)
" Upper Hosiery-Mills," Nelson P. Aken .
facing
242
"Lower Hosiery-Mills," Nelson P. Aken . 242
Residence of M. Martin between 244, 245
Thomas Carroll
244, 245
= Mrs. Catherine Bushnell
244, 245
=
Hon. Darius Peck (steel)
facing 212
= J. W. Lockwood .
246, 247
Hon, Jacob Ten Broeck .
. 213
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
PAGE
Town of Kinderhook . 219
Claverack .
234
Livingston .
253
Germantown
264
IV .- Earliest Settlements in the County 21
V .- Indian Incursions-The French and Indian War-The Revolution 27
VI .- Civil History
34
VII .- The Massachusetts Boundary-Anti-Rent-1751-1852
36
VIII .- Political
45
IX .- Courts .
56
X .- The Columbia Civil List
73
XI .- Distinguished Men of Columbia County
81
XII .- The Professions-The Press .
112
XIII .- Educational and Religious
120
XIV .- Internal Improvements
126
XV .- Manufactures and Agriculture 135
XVI .- Valuations and Taxation 141
XVII .- Military
. . 143
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF HUDSON . 152
CITY OF HUDSON.
Residence of H. A. Du Bois
facing 162
Portrait of John Van Dusen
162
Hon. Cbas. L. Beale
168
=
Hon. Harper W. Rogers.
172
Robert W. Evans
178
E. Gifford
184
Stephen L. Magonn
192
John Stanton Gould
198
Hiram Gage
Hon. Theodore Miller (steel)
207
Stephen Augustus Du Bois
209
Hon. Jacob W. lloysradt (steel)
facing
210
M. Parker Williams
211
.
belonging to Philmont Paper Company . 246, 247
facing 215
John Gaul, Jr.
216
Robert R. Livingston (the Chancellor)
87
Edward P. Livingston
89
Ambrose L. Jordan .
95
Samuel J. Tilden (steel) .
between 104, 105
John Van Ness Philip
105
Edward P. Cowles .
108
Hon. Henry Hogeboom
facing 112
PAGE
Indian Title
15
Hon. Cornelius H. Evans (steel)
238, 239
202
5
CHAPTER
Canaan
Greenport
6
CONTENTS.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAOE
Residence of David Crego
between 246, 247
Portrait of Samnel A. Curtis
329
Lorenzo Gile, M.D.
330
GHENT.
Farm Residence of C. Jacobie . facing 332
Residence of David Crapser
=
332
. and Fruit Farm of Towosend Powell 338
Portrait of George T. Powell
Hon. John T. Hogeboom (steel)
" 342
Hon. John Cadman
. 345
66
Hon. Hugh W. McClellan (stcel)
facing 346
STOCKPORT.
Residence and Mills of C. H. & F. H. Stott . facing 349
Portrait of R. Reynolds . .
between 350, 351
Empire Loom-Works (R. Reynolds' Sons, proprietors). “ 350, 351 Residence and Paper-Mill of J. W. Rossman facing 352
Portrait of Jonathan Stott
. 354
STUYVESANT.
Residence of Levi Milham
facing 356
GREENPORT.
Residence of Mrs. Elizabeth Hollenbeck (with portraits) facing 364
HILLSDALE.
Residence of C. M. Bell facing 368
" George M. Bullock 368
Portrait of E. W. Bushnell between 370, 371
Catharine Bushnell . 370, 371
Residence of E. W. Bushnell .
370,371
John F. Collin (with portrait) facing 372
J. P. Dorr
374
AUSTERLITZ.
Residence of Thomas Slocum (with portraits) .
facing 380
Portrait of Dan Niles
384
CANAAN.
Portrait of Asa Douglas
between 320, 321 *
Daniel D. Warner
320, 321
Residence of Miss Sarah Warner
320, 321
Portraita of Samuel A. Barstow and Wife.
facing 324
Portrait of Daniel S. Curtis
. 328
Residence of Samuel L. Myera (with portrait) .
.
facing 398
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Martin Van Buren
82
John P. Van Ness
98
Elisha Williams
83
William P. Van Ness
98
Judge Robert R. Livingston
85
Cornelius P. Van Ness
98
Robert R. Livingston (the Chancellor)
86
William J. Worth
99
Edward Livingston .
88
Henry Van Schaack .
100
Edward P. Livingston
89
William W. Van Ness
90
Jacob Rutsen Van Rensselaer
91
Ambrose Spencer
91
James Watson Webb
104
Peter Van Schaack
91
Samuel Jones Tilden
between 104, 105
105
John C. Spencer
94
John W. Edmonds
106
Ambrose L. Jordan 94
William A. Porter ·
107
Thomas P. Grosvenor
97
Edward Pitkin Cowles
107
Benjamin Franklin Butler
98
Joseph Gilbert Palen
109
Jamea Vanderpoel
98
Joseph D. Monoll
. 109
Aaron Vanderpoel
98
Killian Miller .
110
CLERMONT.
Clermont Manor-House
facing 277
CHATHAM.
Residence of W. D. Stewart . facing 284
Bullis Brothers' Paper-Mills and Property
between 286, 287
Residence of George Chesterman 286, 287
Portrait of James T. Shufelt, M.D. 288, 289
Residence of William Irish (with portraits)
288,289
Malden Bridge Mills and Property, owned by H. W. Peaalee (double page) .
290,291
Residence of Noadiah M. Hill . facing 292
Portraits of Henry Hill and Wife
between 294, 295
= Bradley Nichols and Wife
294, 295
Portrait of H. W. Peaslee (steel)
296, 297
Mrs. H. W. Peaslee (steel)
296, 297
Portraits of Daniel Reed and Wife . 298
Residence of David Ray (with portraits) .
facing 298
Portrait of P. F. Cady
. 300
Residence of J. H. Angell (with portraits)
between 300, 301
John W. Blunt
300,301
NEW LEBANON.
Residence of H. L. Brown
between 300, 301
The Tilden Homestead
facing 302
Portrait of Hon. Ransom H. Gillet 304
Residence of John Kendall (with portraits)
308
Portraits of Samuel and Ira Hand
312
Residence of Franklin Hand (with portraits) . Mra. Hannah E. Hand (with portraits)
315
Portrait of William B. Cole
316
Residence of H. A. Tilden
facing 317
COPAKE.
Portrait of Alfred Douglas, Jr. .
395
TAGHKANIC.
William Howard Allen David S. Cowles Daniel Cady
101
102
104
John Van Buren
92
John Van Ness Philip
PAOE
and Hosiery-Mill of Geo. W. Philip
facing 249
250
Portrait of James Aken
Nelson P. Aken
250
Residence and Milla of S. K. Barton
252
338
PAGE
PAOE
314
7
CONTENTS.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
PAGE
PAGE
Elias W. Leavenworth
110
David Crego
252
Dr. S. Oakley Vanderpoel .
110
James T. Shufelt, M.D.
between 288, 289
William H. Tobey .
111
Henry Hill
294, 295
Hon. Henry Hogeboom
facing 112
Bradley Nichols
294, 295
Hon. Charles L. Beale
66
168
Horace White Peaslee
296
Hon. Harper W. Rogers
172
David Ray
298
Robert W. Evans
E. Gifford .
184
William Irish
299
Stephen L. Magoun
192
Joel H. Angell .
300
John Stanton Gould
198
Hon. Ransom H. Gillett
facing 304
Hiram Gage
202
Samuel Hand
312
Hon. Theodore Miller
207
The Hand Family
314
Stephen Augustus Du Bois
209
Horatio Nelson Hand
315
Hon. Jacob W. Hoysradt
.
210
William B. Cole
316
Hon. Samuel Anable .
210
John Kendall
316
M. Parker Williams
211
Henry A. Tilden
317
Hon. Darius Peck
212
Moses Y. Tilden
317
Hon. Jacob Teo Broeck
213
Daniel S. Curtis
328
John H. Overhiser
213
Samuel A. Curtis
329
Charles Esselstyn
214
Samuel A. Barstow
329
Hon. Cornelius H. Evans
215
Daniel Warder .
329
John Gaul, Jr. .
215
Lorenzo Gile, M.D.
330
John Van Dusen
216
Hon. John T. Hogeboon
342
Mrs. Sally MeKinstry
216
Hon. John Cadman
345
Hon. Robert MeKinstry
facing 217
Hon. Hugh Wilson MeClellan
346
Casper P. Collier
218
Townsend Powell
346
John Thompson Wendover
facing
222
R. Reynolds
between 350, 351
Nathan Wild
232
Michael J. Hollenbeck
. 367
David W. Gardenier
234
Elisha W. Bushnell
between 370, 371
George W. Philip
249
Hon. John F. Collin .
. 377
James Aken
250
Dao Niles .
faeing 384
Nelson P. Aken .
250
Thomas Slocum .
386
Thomas Carroll .
251
Alfred Douglas, Jr.
394
Stephen K. Barton
252
Samuel L. Myers
402
178
Daniel Reed
298
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HISTORY
OF
COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
BY CAPTAIN FRANKLIN ELLIS.
CHAPTER I. GEOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.
THE county of Columbia is the fifth (counting north- ward) in that range of counties of which the Hudson river forms the entire western boundary.
On the north it is bounded by Rensselaer county, on the south by Dutchess, which also forms a small part of its east boundary. The remainder of its eastern border lies against the State of Massachusetts.
The surface of the county is diversified. There is no part of it which can properly be called mountainous, though that term is sometimes applied to the eastern portion, which is traversed in a northerly and southerly direction by the hills of the Taghkanic range, from which, in several places, spurs and detached ridges extend for a considerable distance westward. A prolongation of the Peterborough ridge enters Columbia upon its northern border, but soon di- minishes into inconsiderable hills. To the westward of these ranges the county is an undulating plateau, which extends to the river, there generally terminating in bold shores or bluffs.
Of waters, the principal is the majestic Hudson river. Its largest tributary from Columbia county is Stockport creek (formerly called " Major Abraham's creek"), which enters the river about eleven miles below the Rensselaer county line. This stream is formed from the Kinderhook and Claverack creeks, which, approaching each other from the northeast and from the south respectively, unite their waters at a point only about three miles distant from the great river. It is estimated that these two streams collect and pour into the Hudson through Stockport creek the waters drained from fully seven-tenths of the entire area of the county.
Kinderhook creek takes its rise in Rensselaer county, flows in a southerly course into the northeastern part of Columbia, where it receives the waters gathered by the Wyomanock creek among the Lebanon hills; then turning northwest it re-enters Rensselaer, whence, after being aug-
mented by several small streams, it returns to Columbia, and pursues a general southwesterly course, being joined from the south by Kline Kill and Stony creek, and from the north receiving the tribute sent by beautiful Kinder- hook lake through Valatie Kill; after which it turns still more towards the southi, and flows on to its confluence with Claverack creek.
The sources of Claveraek creek are in a number of small lakes and ponds situated in the eastern and southeastern parts of the county. One of the principal of these is Co- pake lake, which gives a considerable contribution to the southern branch of the creek. The two branches unite near the village of Claveraek, from whence the course of the main stream is nearly north till it meets the creek of Kin- derhoo k.
A cluster of small lakes or ponds, of which some of the principal are Rhoda, Snyder's, and Robinson's ponds, lie in the southeastern part of the county, near the southwest corner of Massachusetts. From these, and from other sources farther to the north, among the Taghkanic hills, rise the numerous streams which, united, form the creek which . for two centuries has borne the name of Roeloff Jansen's Kill. At first it flows in a southerly direction along the base of the Taghkanie hills, then swerves towards the southwest until it reaches and barely crosses the south line of the county into Dutchess, but immediately returns in a northwesterly course to Columbia, where it is joined by the waters of the outlet stream of Lake Charlotte, which lies a few miles north of the Dutchess line. Beyond this it con- tinues to flow in a north-northwesterly direction, receiving from the eastward the small stream called Kleina Kill, and then entering the river eight miles above the southern line of the county.
Up to and for several miles above this point, the Hudson is navigable for vessels of the largest class. The river front- age of the county is twenty-nine and three-eighths miles, and its superficial area is six hundred and eighty-eight square miles, or more than four hundred and forty thousand acres.
2
9
1
10
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
CHAPTER II.
THE WHITE MAN'S FIRST VISIT, AND THE IN- DIANS WHOM HE FOUND HERE.
IN the year 1609, and in the month of September, a small and lonely-looking vessel came in from the ocean and sailed towards the west, along the south shore of Long Island. Her people seanned the shore closely, watching for inlets and harbors, until at last they came to where, behind a bare and barren point, they saw an inviting bay, which seemed to extend far away inland towards the north ; and into this, after careful sounding, they entered and dropped their anchor in a sheltered roadstead, "where the water was alive with fish." The barren eape which they had passed is now ealled Sandy Hook, and the harbor in which their little ship lay alone at anchor is that crowded marine thoroughfare known as the lower bay of New York.
The vessel was of Dutch build, high-pooped after the ancient style, of a burden of about forty lasts or eighty tons, and carrying a rig something similar to that of the modern brigantine. Her name, "The Half-Moon," in Dutch, was painted on her stern ; and high above it floated the Dutch colors, orange,* white, and blue. She was, in fact, one of the vessels of the Dutch East India Company, which they had put in commission under command of Captain Henry Hudson, an Englishman, with Robert Juet, also an Englishman, as clerk or supercargo, and with a crew of twenty sailors, partly Dutch and partly English, and had dispatched her from Amsterdam, for the purpose of discovering a northeastern or northwestern passage to China and the Indies.
The previous, incidents of her voyage are not pertinent to our narrative. It is sufficient to say that, with the master and crew above mentioned, she had now entered an estuary, which Captain Hudson verily believed (from its size, depth, and general direction) to be the outlet of a passage such as he was seeking.
After a nine days' stay here, during which he thoroughly explored the kills and other waters around Staten Island, and met and dealt with the strange people whom he found living upon the shores, he lifted his anchor, and on the 12th of September sailed on, up the great river. On the 14th he passed Haverstraw, and anchored that night near West Point. On the morning of the 15th he resumed his way, and before evening many bluffs and headlands, which are now within the county of Columbia, lay abreast of him, upon the starboard hand. That night the " Half-Moon" was anchored near Catskill, where, says Hudson's journal, " we found very loving people and very old men, and were well used. Our boat went to fish, and caught great stores of very good fish." The natives also brought on board " In- dian corn, pumpkins, and tobacco." The next morning they delayed for a long time, taking in water (probably not having discovered the excellence of the river water, or else having found a spring which they mueh preferred), so that
during all that day they made not more than five or six miles, and anchored for the night near the present site of the village of Athens. Beyond here they seem to have found more difficult navigation and to have made slower progress. At a point a short distance above the vessel lay for many hours, during which they were visited by natives, with whom the commander returned to the shore and became their guest. The following account of his visit is given by De Laet, as a transcript from Hudson's own journal. He says,-
" I sailed to the shore in one of their canoes with an old man who was chief of a tribe consisting of forty men and seventeen women. These I saw there in a house, well con- structed of oak-bark, and circular in shape, so that it had the appearance of being built with an arched roof. It contained a great quantity of Indian corn and beans of the last year's growth ; and there lay near the house, for pur- pose of drying, enough to load three ships, besides what was growing in the fields. On our coming into the house, two mats were spread out to sit upon, and some food was immediately served in well-made red wooden bowls. Two men were also dispatched at once with bows and arrows in quest of game, who soon brought in a pair of pigeons which they had shot. They likewise killed a fat dog, and skinned it in great haste, with shells which they had got out of the water. They supposed that I would remain with them for the night ; but I returned after a short time on board the ship. The land is the finest for cultivation that I ever in my life set foot upon, and it also abounds in trees of every description. . These natives are a very good people, for when they saw that I would not remain with them they supposed that I was afraid of their bows; and, taking their arrows, they broke thein in pieces, and threw them into the fire."
De Laet gives 42° 18' as the latitude of the place where this visit was made. This seems to confirm the belief, arising from other circumstances, that the lodge, granaries, and corn-fields of the old chief were in the present town of Stockport, near the mouth of the creek, and that the com- mander of the " Half-Moon" was the first white man who ever set foot within the territory which is now Columbia eounty.
Above this place they proceeded slowly, as would natu- rally be the ease in navigating a channel with the intricacies of which they were entirely unacquainted ; and it was not until the evening of the 18th that the " Half-Moon" let go her anchor at or near where is now the city of Albany. The approach of the great canoe with its strange company had been heralded near and far, and a great number of the simple natives came to gaze upon a sight which many re- garded with fear, and all with wonder.} When Hudson
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